Switch-operating mechanism.



v 1:. s. OLMSTED. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIQN TILED JULY 1, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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E. S GLMSTED'. SWITCH OPERATING MEGHANHM.

APPLIOATIOR FILED JULY 1, 1910,

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i an are that am form diirin the k;

lJlQ tubular connection being orovidcd in the.

consists in certain improvements, and comswitch operating -niechanisin perspective view oi the devices for breaking if no i maimed i i m "rum new in aid; in lilill gin ithlijlnb illicit w l it L a/il ELMER QLTIISTED, DE LOUISVILLE. KENTUCKY, ASSIGNGR 1Y3 CZ'IEATI-IAM ELECTRIC HG IJEVICE COMPANY. OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUSKY, A CDRPQRATEON 01E SXVXTGH-GPEHATINQ MECEANESM.

specification of Letters Patent. jil g gimfifijqgd De Q3 129113 applieation'filed July 1-. i910. Serial No. 569,972.

trolley wheel; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the switch for controlling the operation of the solenoid which throws the switch point, illustrating also the cooperative locking device; Fig. 7 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 6 in side elevation and as viewed from the right, the locking device being omitted; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the solenoid operated contact which establishes a circuit through one or another of the sections of the solenoid which throws the switch pointyl 'ig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the locking device for "the movable contact; 10 represents a transverse section through the switch point operating solenoid and its inclosing box showing the flexible connection for the wires leading to the solenoid; and Fig 11 represents a transverse section through the flexible connection and illustrating the construction of one of the clamps.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention is an improvement To all whom may concern:

lie it known that I, llLMER S. Omis'rno, a citien of the United States residing at Louisville; in the county of Jeilerson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating h'lCClltl'lllFlll, of which the following is a specification. I

My present invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanism of the type wherein the track switch thrown autoinatically and electrically by or under the control o? the car as the ca approaches the switch, and it has for its object primarily to provide certain improvements in nieclninisni of this character whereby the switch mechanism is locked so as to prevent aseeond operation until a car has passed completely over the switch whereupon the switch tuyeraiing mechanism is automatically unlocked to permit it to be operated by the next car, derailment or other accidents being: tl'ierel'iy avoided. A

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device tor preventing arcing ot upon the automatic switchthrowinp' ineehathe trolley circuit between the contacts 0t nlsin disclosed in Letters Patent, 696,315

ganted March 25, 1902, and reference may he had to said patent which discloses a generally similar system. y

In the present instance, 1 designates the switch point to loeoperated, it being for example aswitch such as used oin'drdinary streetrailways, the switch poinLhaving a lug 2 attached thereto and this hig is con nected by a link 3 ,to an operating lever at, one end of this operating leverheing fulcrinned on a stationary pivot pin 5 and its opposite end is connected by a link ill to the core 7 of a solenoid 8, said solenoid having the trolley pan during; the passage of the trollev whee-h and to provide novel means for protecting and insulating the wires lead ing to the switch throwing solenoid, a tieKipresent instance which will not only preventllie entrance of water or moisture to the solenoid, but also, facilitates and maintains such connection.

To these and other ends, the invention hinatii'ins and arrangements of parts, all as will he hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being, pointed out particu: larly in the claims at the end of the spec/iii cation.

In the accompanying drawing:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of an automatic constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 rep-resents a transverse section, through the trolley pan. showing the device if r breaking passage of the trolley wheel; Figs. 3 and -i represent in' top plan and longitudinal section, respec tively, the trolley pan; Fig. 5 is a detail core 7 and thereby throw the switch point into the osition shown in Fig. 1 while the coil 10 w en energized serves to reverse the position of the core and the switch point. The coil 9 has one terminal grounded while the other terminal is connected to a wire 11.- One terminal of the coil 10 is also grounded while its other terminal is connected to the wire 12. The solenoid and the related switch operating mechanism are preferably contained in a closed box 13 which isembedded below the surface of the ground or pavement. and in order to prevent the entrance of water or moisture to the solenoid which would be liable tdinjure it, the sale any are which may form between the parts of the trolleypan during the passage of the noid coils are inclosed in a water-tight casmg 14 which is provided with a nipple 15 nipple 15 of the solenoid. casing and the ta'nce into the box 13, while the other end usual rigid pipe 16 which is buried under ground, this connection consisting of a short length of flexible tubing 17, high grade steam hose being suitable, and one end of this length of tubing is fitted over the end of the pipe 16 which projects a suitable dis of the. flexible tubing is tlescoped over the nipple 15 on the solenoid casing. The two ends of the flexible tubing are firmly secured upon the pipe 16 and nipple 15 so as to maintain a fluid-tight connection therewith by a pair of clamps 18, each clamp consisting preferably of a strip of brass or suitable material which surrounds the tubing, and a bolt 19 extends through the opposed outturned lugs 20 on the ends of the clamp and serves to draw the clamp and the tubing tightly upon the nipple 15 and the pipe 16. A flange 21 preferably extends beyond the lug 20 adjacent to one end of the clamp and fits beneath the opposed end of the clamp so as to maintain an even and continuous ressure upon the tubing, thereby avoiding eakage at that (point of the clamp where the bolt is locate In the'present instance the switch throwing solenoid is energized by current taken from the ordinary trolley wire. In the present instance 22 designates the. usual trolley wire, and at a suitable distance in advance of the switch is placed a trolley pan which is shown in Figs. 24: inclusive. This trolley an is similar in its general construction to tiat disclosed in the prior patent aforesaid, the longitudinally exten ing and opositely inclined strips 23 and 24. which may lie of wood or other suitable insulating ma-' terial having runway irons 25 and 26 secured to their under sides, the strips 23 and into a central section 26 sections 26 24 being rigidly secured in fixed relation by transverse blocks 27 and 28, and the trolley wire 22 passes over and spans these transverse blocks. One of the runway irons(the iron 25 in the present instance) is continuous from end to end of the trolley pan. The opposed runway iron 26, however, is divided and a pair of end the end sections 26 and 26 being insulated from the middle section 26 and also from theopposed continuous section 25. In the present form of the invcntion, the middle section 26 of the trolley pan forms part of the circuit which energizes the solenoid and throws the switch point, While the end section 26 forms part of a separte locking circuit. Consequently, as the trolley whccl X passes from the middle section 2.65m the end section 26, there and 26,

is a break in the circuit which will tend to middle section 26 and the opposed runway iron 25. Such an arc, however, is prevented from forming according to the present invention by a division plate or guard 2!) composed of insulating material, this plate or guard being sufliciently narrow to depend through the trolley pan between the adjacent edges of the opposed runway irons 25 form an are between the extreme end of the l instance being secured to a horizontal plate 30 which is also preferably composed of in sulating material and it is secured upon the top of the strips 23 and 24-, one end of the plate 29 resting against or adjacent to the cross-piece '28. The division plate or guard 2%) will thereby materially increase the air gap between the runway irons 25 and 26 so that the fori'nation of an are which would interfere with a correct and certain operation of the switch mechanism is'prm entcd.

The operation of the solenoid 8 is controlled by an intermediate solenoid 31 which may be housed in a box or casing 32, and this box or casing may be conveniently supported by a trolley pole or other suitable support. This solenoid 31 is provided with a core 33 and the core carries a moving contact 34 which is capable of operating between a pair of opposed stationar contacts 35 and 36, the contacts 35 and 36 eing connected respectively to the wires '11 and 12 leading to the coils or sections 9 and 10 of the solenoid 8. The moving contact 34 is connected by a wire 37 to the middle section 26 of the runway iron 26, a suitable resistance 38 being interposed in this part of the circuit. The terminals of the solenoid 31 are connected to the trolley wire 22 and the runway iron 25 by the wires 35) and 40 respectively. lVhen the solenoid 31is energizcd suliiciently, its core 33'will move upwardly into the solenoid, thereby carrying the contact 34 into engagement with the upper contact 35 and when the solenoid 31 is deencrgized, the contact 34 will descend, leaving the upper contact 35'and moving into engagement with the lower contact 36. The solenoid, together with the contacts 35 and 536, is mounted upon an insulating base 41 which may be composed of wood or other suitable insulating material. In order to revent arcing adjacent to the wooden or insulating base 41- as the movable contact 34 disengages from either of the contacts 35 and 36, I form the moving contact 34 substantiall as a Wedge, that 1s to say, it tapers at 42, thereby reducing that portion of the contact 34 adjacent to the base 41 aufiicicntly to cause only that ortion of the contactil t farthest removed rom the insulating base 41 to engage the contacts 35 and 36- and, consequently, when the contact 34 disengages from the contacts 35' and 36, any are that and .26, this plate or guard in the present .tacts 35 and 35. the locking device 55 may and that it is desirable to throw the switch may be formed will be a suilicient. distance! from the base 41 to prevent the are from burning or charring the base. i According to the pres nt -invention.'the| contact- 34 islocked in engagement with 5 either the contact 35 or 36 as the case may; be until after the ear lais completely passed 3 the switch, whereupon such car automati- 5 ally unlocks the contact 34 so as to permit l the switch mechanism to be thrown by the next car. This result accomplished in the present instance by a double solenoid 43 which may be also contained in the casing 32, it having apair of coils t l and 45, one terminal of each of the coils 4-l/and 45 being grounded at LG while the remaining terminal of the coil 44 is connected by a wire 47 to the. end section 26 of the trolley pan, a suitable resistance 48 being prefe'ably/includcd in this circuit. 'lhea-emaining terminal of the coil 45 is connected by a wire -19 to a contact. plate 50 of a secdnd trolley pan 51, this secondtrolley pan being located alongthe trolley wire at a suitable distance beyond the switch. A suitable resistance 52 may be also included [in circuit with the'coil 45. The trolley pan 51 may ,be siniilar to the one first described, except that it may. be. shorter, and in addition tothe contact plate 50 it has an o apo'sed contactjplat'e '53; the trolley wheel while passing along the trolley pan 51 riding uponand bridging the plates 50 and 53. The solenoid 43 is provided with a corei54 the end of which carries a locking device 55, this locking device in the present instance embodying a pair of opposed blades 56 which correspond in taper tot the beveled or tapered portions 4120f the contact 34. After the contact 34 hasjbee i moved into engagement with one or another of the con shift into a position in which one of the blades 56 will enter between the tapered portions 42 of the contact, while the other blade 56 will bear upon the exterior of the movable contact, and as the locking device 53 moves in a directiontransverse to the line of move ment of the contact 34. the device 55 will thereby lock the contact until after the locking device has been retracted by an encrgizing of the coil 45. the locking device being moved into locked position by energuaation of the coil 44. i in operation. it will be as umed that the switch point l is set for the straight track point into the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1, that is, fora curve or crossover. Under these conditions, the locking device 55 will be in retracted position owing to the passage of the preceding car over the switch. \Vhen the trolley wheel X upon the car to' throw the switch reaches the trolley pan. the motorman willv set the controller on the car to turn the current through the car motors.

.solcnoitliil from the trolley wire being I solenoid 31, wire -10 to the plate or runway heavy one and will include in its circuit the solenoid 31.-the current passing through the V groum'led from the car. The solenoid 31 will be thereby energized with sutiicient strength to htt the contact 34- into engagement with the upper contact 35 and asthe latter is connected by the wire 11 to the coil!) of the 'solenoid 8. the switch point will be thrown for the turn in the track. Innnediately after the trolley wheel leaves the section 26 of the trolley pan it reaches the end section 26. the circuit through the solenoid'31 being maintained during the passage of the trolley wheel from the section 26 to the section 26. The current will then proceed from the trolley wire through the wire 35),

iron and from the latter it will bridge by the trolley wheel to the .end contact section 26". From the latter the current will flow by the wire 47 to the coil sit-of the. solenoid 43, this coil being grounded at 46. The current flowing through the coil -14 will ope -ate the core 54 and will thereby carry thelocking device 55 into locking engagementwith the contact 34 which controls the circuit for the switch throwing solenoid 8. I11 this way the circuit for-the switch throwing solenoid 8" will be locked in closed condition until after the car has completely passed over the switch or, in other words. until after the trolley wheel on the car ,raches the second or releasing trolley pan 51. As the trolley wheel leaves the contactisection 26. the circuit through the solenoid 31 will be broken and the locking device will serve'to retain the contact. I-l-l in elevated position. When the trolley wheel reaches the contact plates 50 and 53. it will bridge them, current from the trolley wire then passing from the contact plate 52, through the trolley'wheel to the plate 50 and from the latter it will pass by the wire 45) to the coil of the locking solenoid 43, the coil 45 of this solenoid being thereby energized with the result that the locking device will be retracted. leaving the movable. controlling contact 34 free for subsequent operation.

If it is desirable to set the switch for the straight track, then the motorman will shut 40 in advance of the-switch, as,the car passing to the coil 10 of the. switch throwing solenoid. Vt'hen the trolley wheel reaches a point where it will span the runway iron 25 and the opposed section 26, a relatively weak current will start. t'rom the trolley hy shifted in the desired direction. During this operation, the resistance 38 is in series with the solenoid 31 so that the latter while it. is included as a part'of this circuit will not be energized with sullicient strength to lift the movable contact 34. The locking of the contact 3-H, however, and also the unlocking thereof is effected as in the first instance.

At'tcr a car has thrown the switch in either direction, it will be obvious from the t'oro oing that the locking device will be operated before the trolley wheel on the car leaves thetrolley pan in advance of the switch. The switch cannot be shifted again untilafter the trolley wheel on the car has passed the switch and has-also passed the trolley pan 51 which is beyond the switch, the passage of the trolley wheel under the pan 51 causing an unlocking'of the switch throwing mechanism. Itis therefore impossible for the switch to be thrown or displaced while the car is passing thereover even should a car following the car upon the switch reach a position where its trolley wheel would cooperate with the trolley pan the switch will have the control thereof. I claim as my invention: 1; In switch operating mechanism, the combination of an electrically operative switch throwing device, means for closing a circuit through the switch throwing device to operate the switch, and a locking demeans to retain it in predetermined condition during the passage of a car over the switcln 2.1a switch operating mechanism, the

switch throwing device, circuit closing meansjlor controlling the flow ofjcurrent thronghthe switch throwing device, an electrically operative locking device arranged to cooperate with the circuit closing means to retain it in predetermined position, and means for automatically releasing the locking device to permi. ubseqnent operation of the switch throwing device.

3. ln switch operating mechanism, the combination of an electrically operative closin; n'ieans operative automatically duringthe movement of a'car for transmitting current from the trolley to the switch throwing, device to operate the latter in the proper direction, and a locking device cotiperative with the circuit closing means and operative automatically from the trolley to first lock zihd to subsequently'unlock the circuit closing means.

4. In switch operating mechanism, the combination of an' electrically operative switch throwing device, a trolley, contact devices thereon controllable by a trolley wheel, a movable contactcontrollable by said contact devices for transmitting current from the trolley to the switch throwing device, a locking device arranged to engage an cori cts' spaced longitudinally of the trolley for operating the locking device to first; lock the movable contact to retain the switch in one positionsnd to subsequently ,nnlock the locking. device.-.

In testuno y whereof I have hereunto set my ha'nd'in presence of two subscribing wit}, 'ness's. I v ELMER s. OLMSTED Witnesses:

J. A. S'r'mvm, M. DE Cormsnr.

combination of an electrically operated.-

iswitch throwing device, a trolley, circuit ice. coiiperatirc with the circuit closing 

